FRGs Constitution Flashcards
What was the FRGs Constitution called?
Basic Law
What was the Constitution written under the assumption that?
It would be rewritten when Germany reunited.
Why was the Basic Law written more freely then the Weimar one had been done?
The Weimar constition had to work against pressure groups from the army, trade unions and monarchists/ the aristocraticy. These groups now had no longer significant power bases from which to oppose a goverment.
What were 3 progressive parts to the basic law?
- Equal rights to German citizens, regardless of sex, race, political views or religeon. 2. Free speech, freedom to form trade unions, free assembly and no censorship. 3. State education for all although private schooling was allowed.
What is an example that shows the Basic Law had the potential to be repressive?
It was possible to nan political parties if they were seen to undermine the FRG or its democraic principles.
What was the FRGs law making body made up of?
The Bundestag and the Bundestrat
What was the bundestag?
It was elected by a ballot of voters every 4 years. Electors vote for a regional representative but also vote for a party. Votes are sorted by proportion al representation. It passed the law of the country.
How was a party elected into the bundestag?
It’s proportional representation, however the party needs atleast 5 percent of the vote to gain a seat.
What was the bundesrat?
Representatives from the lander, chosen by the lander from those elected to the lander
Who was the Head of state in the FRG?
The president
How was the president elected?
It was elected by a federal convention every 5 years.
What was the federal convention made up of?
All bundestag members and an equal number of bundesrat members.
How did the judiciary system work in the FRG?
There are federal courts and locally regional courts
How does local legislature work?
16 Lander are elected by voters in their region.
How does local government work in the FRG?
It varies reflecting how the original state was set up. Each state is divided into counties and these counties run their own local services, water power etc. Local official’s have some power over local planning. Cities have their own municipal goverment as do SOME towns.
What date was the first election to the Bundestag?
14 August 1949
What were the results of the first election?
The CDU/CSU won 31% of the vote whilst the SPD won 29.2%. The FDP and Liberal collation won 11.9% of the vote so they held the balance of power.
Who was the first FDP chancellor?
Konrad Adenauer, the leader of the CDU
How did the USSR respond to the creation of the FRG?
It set up the GDR with a separate Constitution. and the SED was the majority party.
How did talks about unifying the country go in the early FRG?
Both the FRG and the GDR spoke about and negotiated reunifiying the country. However they developed a number of policies which tied them to the West and USSR respectively.
When was the Hallstein doctorine passed?
1955
What was the hallstein doctrine?
The doctrine refused to recognise the legality of East Germany as a separate country. It announced that it spoke for the whole of Germany in world affairs and would have no diplomatic relations with any country that had diplomatic relations with the GDR?
What are two examples of Germany acting on the halstien doctrine?
It cut off relations with Yugoslavia in 1957 and Cuba in 1963
What years was Adenauer chancellor of West germany for?
1949-1963
How did Adenauers critics say that he ruled Germany?
They said that he ruled a chancellor democracy
What did chancellor democracy mean?
They said that Adenauer had a authoritarian style of leadership and had more power then the basic law allowed.
What is an example of evidence of Adenauer running a chancellor democracy?
He controlled domestic and foreign policy as chancellor and foreign minister. At the same time, he appointed weak ministers (Erhard being an exception,) whom he treated as advisors not political equals.
What was a benefit of Adenauers forceful personality?
He kept the FRG coalitions working together until he did not need to as the CDU/CSU won a majority. The chancellor stayed from this party until 1969
What were the two goals Adenauer set out when he came into office?
- Uniting Germany 2. Working for closer European integration
What did people point out was the issue with Adenauers policy issues?
They were contradictory as each goal would work against each other.
Why did some people argue that FRG should work along side the west?
It would be the fastest way to rebuild the economy and as a result prevent political problems.
How did Adenauer change voting rules in 1953?
Vote allocations and seat changes made it harder for smaller parties to gain seats in the bundestag
What party did Adenauer ban in 1952?
The extreme right-winged socalist reich party
What party was banned in 1956?
The KPD after it was declared unconstitutional in their attitude to democratic government.
What did these changes to votes result in?
They resulted in a three party bundestag. This reminded people of the Nazi government and the shifting coalitions all supported the status quo. More and more saw this as running against the democratic spirit of basic law
What did many people believe was a mistake Adenauer made when he attempted to quickly rebuild the civil service?
He employed to many ex Nazis
Why did Adenauer employed so many ex Nazis?
In 1939, all goverment workers had to join the Nazi party or lose their jobs. Adenauer argued that letting them work again in their democratic system was the only way to establish an effective civil service.
What was the idea of the year zero?
A policy that no questions should be asked about what happen3d before 1945
